The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-05
T-Trace of rain.
THE STORY OF JOHN f. BENSON.
A Lucky Strike in q Lottery Followed by
Financial and Mental Ruin.

Chicago Herald.
The story OF John F. Benson is the story of a
lucky investment in lottery, business prosperity,
bright prospects, thor bad luck and loss of fort
une and reason. Probably as the result of win
ming SIS, 600 prize In Southern lottery John
F.. Benson. proprietor of a saloon at Ala State
street is now locked ND in the insane depart
ment of the county jail Benson is a negro,
about thirty eight years of age, and until three
years ago was porter in sleeping running
between here and Kansas City. One day he in
vested 81 in lottery ticket and few weeks
afterward received check for SIS, 900, one-ffth
of the capital prize Then the porter blossomed
out He resigned his position at and
opened gorgeous saloon on State street, which
became the favorite resort of all thu aristocratc
colored men in that portion of the town. For
time he had more business than he could COM
fortably attend to- and his bartenders were kept
on the jump day and night The lottery money
seemed to be a sort of mascot, and every venture
he engaged in turned out successfully. There is
superstition among negroes who play policy
that the numbers ALA fall out during the
holidays Last year Benson played these num-
beers for a week. and when they were declared
the winners Christmas morning he realized sew
eral hundred dollars. Elated with his success
at policy, his friends, say, he began to gamble
on a moro extensive scale His luck, how
ever, seemed finally to have deserted him,
and he plunged heavily in order to recoup
himself for series of small losses Neither
large nor small bets were played on the right
cards, and instead of retrieving hie losses he be-
came more deeply involved than ever. Up to
this time Benson had been a sober, industrious
man, and had given careful attention to his bus
mess. He was not proof however, against the
usual concomitancs to gambling, and sought for
gerfuiness of his losses IN copious draughts of
whisky. Dissipation, together with difficulties
OF a domestic nature. worked upon his mind
that his friends for some time have been dis
cussing the a6visahility of placing him under
restraint Monday morning he tried to shoot
Pullman car porter without any apparent cause,
and was arrested and taken the county Jail.
His actions were SO strange and his rawlings
violent that he was sent to the insane depart
ment, where it was thought that his mind was
badly affected.
When seen by a reporter of The Herald yes
terday. Benson was seated on a bench outside
his cell. He was perfectly rational, but said
that he did not have the least idea as to what
had happened in the last few days. He did not
have the slightest recollection of trying to shoot
his friend, nor did he have any enmity against
him.
'Its all caused by that lottery money" said
he. Il wish I'd never won it, I've been get
ting into trouble ever since | had il. tell You,
/ was a good deal happier when porter
on a sleeping car, even when a slave
down in Tennessee. How long do you suppose
they'll keep me here2 You for yourself
that amt crazy. It's enough to make man
insane though. to stay here at night and listen
to the yelling of these people"
Just then the prisoners dinner was brought
to him. and he found solace for his grief in mas
ticating huge piece of roast beef.